Slowly progressive dementia and multiple cerebral cortical infarctions following mitral valve replacement

Clin Neuropathol. 2001 Nov-Dec;20(6):239-42.

Abstract

We describe the clinicopathological findings of a woman, 83 years of age at the time of death, who demonstrated dementia and numerous cerebral infarctions. She had a history of repeated mitral valve replacements 15 and 13 years prior to death and showed a dull responsive state 1 month after the second operation. Thereafter, dementia manifested and slowly progressed. Brain computed tomography revealed cortical atrophy and ventricular dilatation. Histological examination revealed a large number of minute foci of infarction in the cerebral cortex. Such lesions may have developed in association with the valve replacement and resulted in progressive dementia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Atrophy
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Cerebral Infarction / diagnosis
  • Cerebral Infarction / etiology*
  • Cerebral Infarction / pathology
  • Dementia, Multi-Infarct / diagnosis
  • Dementia, Multi-Infarct / etiology*
  • Dementia, Multi-Infarct / pathology
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation*
  • Humans
  • Mental Status Schedule
  • Mitral Valve Stenosis / surgery*
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnosis
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Postoperative Complications / pathology
  • Reoperation
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed